COTABATO CITY --- The
Bangsamoro Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao (BARMM) is eyeing the use of
solar energy as a source of power for its communities.
This,
as the Germany-based WeGen Company, has expressed interest in helping the
region solve its electrification problems.
“We
have yet to see the over-all picture of the power energy situation of the
region, then surely we could come up with certain remedies on the matter,”
Charlito Ayco, chief growth officer of WeGen Philippines, said in an interview
on the sidelines of the August 22-23 1st Bangsamoro Energy Forum and Planning
Workshop held here.
WeGen
targets to eradicate energy poverty world-wide through clean, affordable, and
renewable energy with the use of solar power technology.
“You
see, our firm is ‘mission-based’ as we cater to areas we see have long been
affected by electrification and other power woes,” Ayco said.
Last
August 23, the BARMM’s Ministry of Environment, Natural Resources, and Energy
(MENRE) wrapped its two-day forum with inputs leading to a regional power
summit planned to take place before the yearend.
“The
just-concluded forum is aimed for us to have a plan before holding a big
summit. We are planning to have an energy summit,” MENRE-BARMM Minister
Abdulrauf Macacua said.
Macacua
said the forum, which carried the theme "Strengthening Opportunities for
the Bangsamoro Energy Sector as Catalyst for Regional Development" and was
attended by more than 100 stakeholders, was a prelude to the conduct of the
energy summit with President Rodrigo R. Duterte as the guest of honor.
Apart
from WeGen, the MENRE minister said many other investors, both local and
foreign, have shown interest in investing in the development of sustainable
energy in the region.
“Our
potential partners are looking at renewable energy and one of those is solar
power, they are more inclined on that,” he said, citing Germany as among the
potential investor.
“Germany,
for example, they came to us for the sole purpose of seeing the possibility of
putting up solar or renewable energy,” Macacua said.
Meanwhile,
BARMM Chief Minister Ahod “Murad” Ebrahim said he believes that renewable
energy is important to sustainable development.
“Providing
households access to electricity is vital in meeting the Sustainable
Development Goal (SDG), specifically SDG 7, which calls for access to
affordable, reliable, sustainable, and modern energy for all,” he said.
Ebrahim
said his leadership prioritizes “the protection of our environment and bringing
renewable energy to the far-flung areas in the region.”
The
MENRE-BARMM is responsible for preparing, integrating, coordinating,
supervising, and controlling all plans, programs, projects, and activities of
the region related to energy exploration, development, utilization,
distribution, and conservation.
During
the forum, Dr. Norodin Salam, MENRE-BARMM deputy minister of energy, also
presented to the stakeholders their office’s mandates and strategic direction
in achieving sustainable energy for the region.
The
BARMM covers the provinces of Maguindanao, Sulu, Tawi-tawi, Basilan, and Lanao
del Sur; the cities of Lamitan, Marawi, and Cotabato; and 63 villages in six
towns of North Cotabato. (NOEL PUNZALAN & EDWIN FERNANDEZ, PNA –
COTABATO / MINDANAO EXPOSE’)
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